$25m boost for marine science research
A new $25 million national Marine Science Research and Development Programme (MSRDP) funded by the Singapore National Research Foundation, with NUS as collaborator, is set to strengthen Singapore’s marine science research capabilities.
The MSRDP will integrate R&D in tropical marine science and actively engage the industry towards promoting environmental and marine sustainability. By leveraging Singapore’s location in a region rich with marine biodiversity, it seeks to advance marine science research in the country by stepping up relevant R&D and boosting capabilities that meet future strategic demands. It will be led by Programme Director Professor Peter Ng Kee Lin from NUS Biological Sciences, who is also Head of the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum. Prof Ng was the former Director of the Tropical Marine Science Institute at NUS.
The programme consists of selected research projects lasting three to five years. It will be governed by a Steering Committee helmed by Professor Ho Teck Hua, NUS Deputy President (Research and Technology), to provide strategic direction for Singapore’s marine science capabilities development.
The island nation’s marine ecosystem — which is under stress from shipping activities, continued urbanisation and climate change — needs innovative ideas in marine science for better management and conservation.
The MSRDP aims to groom local talent in marine science by training research scientists, engineers and PhD students in the field. Internships and collaborative partnerships with industry for technology development and applications will be established. Projects aligned with national initiatives will also be jointly pursued with agencies such as the Housing & Development Board and National Parks Board, for instance in “softening” and “improving” Singapore’s coastlines and better management of coral reefs. An outreach component will enable the sharing of the research outcomes with the public.
The resources of NUS’ St John’s Island Marine Laboratory, Singapore’s only offshore marine research facility, will be tapped to further the programme objectives.
Three research themes and one enabling technology theme for MSRDP have been determined: Marine Ecosystems and Biodiversity; Environment Impact and Monitoring; Coastal Ecological Engineering; and Marine Technology and Platforms.
The programme is open to all publicly funded local researchers in Singapore, and could include partners who are international experts.
